Collapsible tube



1962 J. M. DAUGHERTY COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed 001:. 3, 1960 I INVENTOR. I J01? M. DAM/I587) BY ATTOR/VEKS United States Patent menses COLLAPSIBLE TUBE John M. Daugherty, 667 Nevada Ave, San Mateo, Calif. Filed Oct. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 59,909 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-53) This invention relates to a collapsible tube and more particularly relates to a collapsible tube having fiat side walls which fold easily and neatly as the contents of the tube are used.

Collapsible tubes are used as containers for many products such as toothpaste, shaving cream, alimentary pastes, adhesives and a variety of other products. It has heretofore been the practice to make such tubes of a round cross section. It is not easy to discharge the contents of such tubes nor is it easy to roll up the end and keep the tube neat at all times as well as discharge the entire contents of the tube. Further, since the surface of the tube is round, the display value of the tube is lessened because of the rounded surface on which the message must be printed.

According to the present invention, a tube is provided having fiat side walls connected by gussets, the flat side walls preferably having score lines thereon whereby the tube can be folded neatly upon the score lines. Since the sides of the tube are flat, the tube can be easily stacked. Further, because of the flat sides the tube itself has good display properties so that it is frequently not necessary to employ a box as a container for the tube as is frequently done with many products. The score lines on opposite sides of the tube enable one to fold the tube so that the entire contents are discharged and so that the tube retains a neat appearance until its contents are completely used up.

The tube of the present invention can be made of many materials and thicknesses. For instance, the tube can be made of lead or aluminum foil which may be annealed to give any desired properties. The tube can be made of plastic'or it can be made of a laminated construction material such as paper coated with foil or plastic. Various end closures can be used. The end closures shown are for illustrative purposes.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a tube is provided wherein the interior of the tube is divided into two compartments so that two different materials can be contained within the tube and will mix with each other just prior to being dispensed.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tube embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial side view of a tube made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the lines 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3 with certain parts cut away for clarity.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of an alternate form of separator strip used within the tube.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a tube having a front wall 7 and a back wall 8, the front and back walls being interconnected on each side by the members 9 and 11 which are folded inwardly as is shown to form gussets. This folding is doneon center lines 13 and 15. The center fold lines 13 and 15 are interconnected by -a member which prevents the gussets from spreading outwardly as the tube is filled and used. This member may take the form of a solid sheet of material 17, such as cellulose tape which is fastened to the interior of the gussets with a suitable adhesive 19. Instead of using a solid strip of material, one can use disconnected cross members or can use the 3,%5,$98 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 ladder-like structure shown in FIGURE 5. Here the center member has side members 21 and 23 connected by a series of cross members 25. The members 21 and 23 would be attached to the interior of the gussets as has heretofore been described leaving the center member 25 between the two gussets preventing the two gussets from spreading outwardly.

The top of the tube is provided with a top member 27 which can be fastened to the tube proper by means well known to those skilled in the art. This member terminates in a threaded portion 29 for receiving a cap 31.

The bottom of the tube can be closed merely by bringing the two walls 7 and 8 together and folding them over each other as is shown in FIGURE 1 at 33. Other bottom closing means can be used such as by folding the members in such a way as to provide a satchel or flat bottom.

In FIGURE 2 there is shown the manner in which the tube can be folded as the contents are discharged. The sides 7 and 8 are preferably provided with score lines respectively 35 and 37. These score lines are spaced at convenient intervals on the tube. In this way the tube can be folded in zigzag fashion as the contents are used as is shown in FIGURE 2.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a tube for the discharging and dispensing of semi-solid commodities which is convenient to use, which has good display space on the sides thereof, which stacks readily and which retains a neat appearance until the entire contents of the tube are discharged.

I claim:

1. A container for packaging semi-solid material comprising:

(a) a pair of flat, spaced, rectangular side walls mounted in parallel planes, each of said side walls having two parallel relatively long longitudinal edges;

(b) a pair of gussets extending between each of the said walls, each gusset being integral with a longitudinal edge of each wall throughout the entire length of the said wall;

(c) central fold lines extending the entire length of each gusset and extending parallel to each of the said wall longitudinal edges;

(d) bridging means within said container secured to both gussets at the fold lines thereof, said bridging means securing said gussets together along the central fold line thereof and an inner portion of each of said gussets and being of such a span that said gussets are folded inwardly toward one another and held closer together than the distance between each pair of longitudinal edges of each side wall;

(e) and spaced parallel score lines running transversely of each of said walls between the longitudinal edges of each wall to facilitate folding portions of each Wall upon one another in accordion fashion.

2. A container for packaging semi-solid material comprising:

(a) a pair of fiat, spaced, rectangular side walls mounted in parallel planes, each of said side walls having two parallel relatively long longitudinal edges;

(b) a pair of gussets extending between each of the said Walls, each gusset being integral with a longitudinal edge of each wall throughout the entire length of the said wall;

(c) central fold lines extending the entire length of each gusset and extending parallel to each of the said wall longitudinal edges;

(d) and bridging means within said container secured to both gussets at the fold lines thereof, said bridging means securing said gussets together along a central fold line thereof and an inner portion of each of said gussets and being of such a span that said gnlssets are folded inwardly toward one another and held closer together than the distance between each 5 pair of longitudinal edges of each side wall.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said bridging means consists of a plurality of flexible elements spaced longitudinally within the said container whereby the contents of the container may pass freely throughout all 10 portions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES FATENTS Murphy Jan. 10,

Prucha Oct. 2,

Westin Aug. 8,

Bennett Apr. 24,

Hosier et a1. Nov. 27,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 31, 

